Schumann's inner world, marked by duality, wild humor, and the supernatural, was deeply influenced by the writer E.T.A. Hoffmann, especially his novel 'Lebens-Ansichten des Katers Murr'.
Performer Biography
Imogen Cooper, the pianist on this recording, is recognized for her virtuosity and poetic poise, having performed with major orchestras worldwide and received an CBE and the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist Award.
Composer Biography
Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op. 12, was dedicated to the 18-year-old pianist Robena Laidlaw, whom he had become very close to during a period of separation from Clara Wieck.
Composer Biography
Johannes Brahms arranged the variation movement from his String Sextet in B flat major, Op. 18, for solo piano as a birthday gift for Clara Schumann.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Schumann often conceived the titles for his compositions only after the music was already finished.
Compositional Technique
Franz Brendel, an early critic of Schumann's music, noted Schumann's preference for the open pedal, which created blurred contours in harmonies, comparing his compositions to fog-covered landscapes.
Compositional Technique
Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op. 12, alternates between slow, intimate characters (Eusebius) and fast, bold characters (Florestan), reflecting his dual personae.
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